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Judge holds to dates for state Senate redistricting trial

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Circuit Judge George Reynolds stuck to his guns Tuesday, saying that pre-trial conference and trial dates for a state Senate redistricting challenge were “carved in stone.” Reynolds held a brief case management conference at the Leon County Courthouse, reiterating that Dec. 1 and Dec. 10 would be reserved for pre-trial, with trial remaining on Dec. 14-18. As he sat on the bench, Reynolds asked the attorneys “what news” they had. Florida Senate attorney Raoul Cantero rose to say lawmakers had failed to agree…

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House lawyer: Congressional districts don’t need to be perfect

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The outside lawyer for the Florida House of Representatives argued in a legal brief against a set of suggested congressional district boundaries in part by saying there’s no legal requirement “to create the ‘best’ possible districts.” George Meros, a Tallahassee attorney who also represented then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential recount, says the court “should adopt the House Map.” Briefs were filed in advance for Tuesday afternoon’s oral arguments before the Florida Supreme Court in the congressional redistricting challenge. Meros’ brief criticizes…

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As Special Session winds down, lawmakers take off

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As the Special Session for Senate redistricting drew to a close, lawmakers were taking time off. On Wednesday, two senators had excused absences and weren’t on the floor as their colleagues OK’d a conference process to finish redrawing the district map. Sen. Maria Sachs, a Delray Beach Democrat, “had a personal commitment” and Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican, “had a prior commitment in her district,” according to an email from Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta. No senator planned to be out either Thursday or Friday, the…

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Plaintiffs now say they’re filing their own Senate district map

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The “coalition plaintiffs” in the state Senate redistricting challenge announced Tuesday night they were submitting their own redrawn district map – weeks after the chair of the chamber’s redistricting panel invited them to participate in the mapmaking process. The Senate set up its own map on Tuesday for a Wednesday vote, one that combined a version of South Florida districts drawn by GOP state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla with a base map of the rest of the state favored by Senate Reapportionment Committee chair Bill Galvano.…

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Senate takes Miguel Diaz de la Portilla map with South Florida changes

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The Florida Senate on Tuesday agreed to amend its proposed redrawn district map with a “sandbox” that again moves the lines in South Florida. The plan by GOP state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla also happens to ensure he wouldn’t have to run against fellow Republican Miami-Dade incumbent Anitere Flores. The Senate, however, put off a vote on the final map until Wednesday after a flurry of floor huddles, leading some to speculate that even that plan doesn’t yet have enough votes…

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Oscar Braynon files 5 more Senate maps

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The Florida Senate’s second-ranking Democrat has filed five more plans for consideration in the ongoing Special Session to redraw the state’s 40 senatorial districts. The chamber’s redistricting web page shows that state Sen. Oscar Braynon II of Miami Gardens filed the maps Sunday. Braynon, the Democratic leader pro tempore, also is vice chairman of the Reapportionment Committee. Its members voted 4-3 Friday, along party lines, to forward a map (S9090) to the floor favored by chair Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican. Procedurally, Braynon’s maps could be considered as amendments…

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Senate panel barely clears new redistricting map

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The Florida Senate’s panel on redistricting on Friday narrowly cleared a new map resetting the boundaries of the state’s 40 senatorial districts. The committee’s recommended map (S9090) next will be heard on the Senate floor Tuesday. It was approved on a 4-3 party-line vote. Committee chair Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, said all senators will almost certainly be required to run again for their seats next year. “It’s probably a legal reality at this point,” he told reporters. As to the map’s chances…

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